Project 86 Tri-Z: A day at a time. UPDATED WITH PICS

[200XMichigan]

I have had my eyes on this Tri-Z for over 6 months now. It is sitting behind my friends house and has been there for a long time. He saw me driving a 3 wheeler one time and told me he had an old three wheeler behind his house, he thinks its a Honda 250R, but whatever it was it was so fast it scared the crap out of him. Eventually he says he think's it actually might be a Yamaha. I went over a few times to try to buy it and every time he just changed the subject. Well finally I got to talk business and he said he would take my $215 for the Tri-Z. It looks like its in real good shape but I haven't got to check it out fully since everytime before I asked to buy it he didn't want to have me go look at it or talk about it. He just had no interest in it and every time I was there he didn't feel like showing it to me. It's a red and white one which I believe is the 86 six speed. The fenders look pretty good and it looks like everything is there and it was running great when parked. I'll put some pics up tomorrow or the next day when I get it back to the house.

There are so many types of anti-freeze no days, what does everyone run? Just standard coolant or are any of the extended life ones better?

I am going to run it 32:1 since that seems to be the agreed safe mix level.

What are the other things to check for on the Tri-Z (I know all about the fuel pump). I figure I'll change all its fluids, rebuild the carb, re-jet for winter, tighten my chain, fork fluid, spark plug, check swing arm and carrier bearings. Is there anything specific to the Tri-Z I should look for? I mean at that price I'm buying it no matter what. It will finally get some shelter. I almost went over this winter and tarped it for him because I couldn't stand to see it outside.

[sugarhead]

The tri z i WAS GONNA BUY FOR 900 WAS SOLD,BUMMER!You want to see some cool tri z stuff go to you tube and look up brian raffas Z,his whole yard looks like a trike and powersports haven hes got a real sweet Z.

[bigworm626]

200xMich,
You lucky dog you, finally that trike goes to a better owner. way to rescue that Z kid kash.

[sugarhead]

Where the hell are all the trizs and tecates in NJ?The trailer park trash w the flip flops and backwards baseball caps either let them rot or trashed them w there stupidity probably.

[200XMichigan]

Man every time I was over there I felt bad for it. Plus after having my first 2 stroke trike, the YT175, I needed more. I took the YT175 up some big dunes a couple days ago and was arching this bowl but with no rear suspension and limited front it was pretty getting a bit scary on the way back down. I can't wait, the real deal, 250 cc's of liquid cooled 2 stroke.

They aren't common around here at all. I have only seen one Tecate and maybe a couple Tri-Z for sale within 150 miles or so. I almost got a Tecate last winter but I was already in the dog house for buying my 200X. Been kicking myself ever since for not getting the Tecate. But now I'll have the Tri-Z and it will all be good again.

[Trikeboss]

Ill buy your tri-moto for $215

[wisconsinite]

your rear shock is probably gonna be shot, if it is watch for one from a warrior. i'd also sugest a case saver if you're gonna ride it hard, you can get one from member sblt500r for a fair price.

[Just-Tri-It]

Find a manual or download one. Next to fuel and oil, you need a manual. Tons of info that will be helpful. You can find them on eBay, at good prices sometimes and at higher prices all the time.

[200XMichigan]

Already have a service manual. Downloaded it the day I found out there was a Tri-Z for me to get. But I noticed my manual is for the YTZ250N, and was printed in 84. Will this manual still cover everything except for the tranny gears? Or did they change a lot of things for the 86 Tri-Z?

[200XMichigan]

UPDATE: I went to get it yesterday and man it has had a hard life but its going to clean up really good. There are no cracks in any of the plastic, except one tiny crack in the front fender. They still seem flexible, so some wet sanding and the plastic should look real good.

The rear wheels are stupid steel wheels, he told me the front its the wrong wheel, the backs are correct. I started to tell him that wasn't right but why bother, he also said it was a 4 speed. When I got there I had a spark plug wrench and some PB Blaster and I was going to pull the plug before I tried to kick it over, spray in some PB Blaster, go in and have a beer and let it sit. I get there and he had been kicking it over all day to get it to start. I told him not to worry about it I would just pull the carb when I get home, he told me don't bother with that just try some fresh gas. I am thinking this thing has been sitting so long and its a Tri-Z, there is no way I am not rebuilding its carb. But its at my house and as soon as the weather allows I am going to clean it up and change all the fluids, and clean and re-jet the carb.

[muthey]

I saw some old oil on the motor you might want to chack and see if it's got blown gaskets before really running it I want a tri-z pretty bad myself and would hate to see yours blown just by starting it

[200XMichigan]

Its going to get a lot before I run it. Looks to me that oil is just blowing back from the exhaust. He said he mixed it 20:1 the last time he ran it and it was smoking really bad. There not any oil that could leak out of the head of a 2 stroke, no oil passages or anything. But don't worry it is going to get some major attention.

[90guy]

im liking the home made foot peg back yard work FTW!

[200XMichigan]

It was funny, he made sure to point it out to me. Like somehow I wasn't going to notice this jagged cobbled foot peg. That needs to go.

[tommerp]

I have a set of footpegs Ill send you for cost of shipping.

PM me and let me know if you are interested... They are a just a bit bent, but still better than a piece of old bed-rail (ala bcredneck LOL)